Desperate Measures (Uther and Nimueh)

[kinguthersqueen]

King Uther stood on the balcony, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the friend he'd summoned. He did not wish to discuss this matter in the grand hall, it was only to be known to Nimueh, aside from the king himself and Gaius.

It was the desperate measure of a man who believed himself without recourse that drove him to this point. He had conquered this land, had brought peace and prosperity to its people. But, he and Ygraine had failed to produce an heir to solidify his place as king. She failed to become pregnant, even with Gaius's remedies helping her, and the few times she had conceived, she had failed to carry the child more than a few weeks.

The council had advised him to send Ygraine away and take another wife, so that he could produce an heir, and Uther would have no part of that. Ygraine was everything to him, and he felt as though he would not be able to live if she were not with him. And now, with all other recourses having failed, he had summoned Nimueh to assist with the one thing that would still work: magic. Ygraine knew it would be dangerous, though she did not know the true cost of the venture. Uther knew what would be required, and he was prepared to give himself for a son. Ygraine would then be able to raise him and Camelot's future would be secure after he was gone.

Now, he waited for her arrival, under no impression that she would enter by normal means. She had a way of appearing suddenly, and leaving just as suddenly, while being seen only by those she wished to know of her coming. He readied himself, knowing that she would not agree easily to what he asked, but knowing he would not have her refuse him.

[Deleted]

Nimueh felt a mix of excitement, curiosity and anxiety. There was something afoot, she knew that, maybe even something grand. Uther Pendragon, king of Camelot and her friend since his youth years, had called on her to come to Camelot. And this was by no means a courtesy visit. Gaius, another friend and trusted court physician had hinted at some favor the king had to ask of her, but he had stayed alarmingly vague. “Uther will better tell you in person, face to face”, he had said diplomatically, but Nimueh couldn’t quite shake the feeling off that he had been glad to stay out of this, and that was worrying in itself.

But of course she had come. Not because she had to obey Uther – as the High Priestess of Magic she was beyond anyone’s command aside from the Goddess herself – but because she wanted to help him. If there was anything in her power she could do she would do it. The people relied on her for spiritual guidance and also on the power she had to wield magic. Many practiced the art of sorcery, but Nimueh was the very own vessel of the Goddess’ power, she alone could even master the power of life and death. Not that she ever had had to wield such a powerful weapon of course, the knowledge itself could be quite frightening. Magic was by many means an almost to be called cruel entity. It always demanded a price for what it gave. Nevertheless it should be seen as a blessing to mankind, as something beautiful and valuable. That was Nimueh’s firm belief.

For the last few months other duties had kept her more or less on the Isle of the Blessed, and she had had little chances to visit Camelot, which she deeply regretted. Nimueh thrived on the hustle and bustle of court life, and Camelot was the very center of joy and endless festivities. Under Uther’s rule it had prospered beyond belief, being allied with powerful magic made it strong as well. All other kingdoms around Camelot looked up to it as a role model. Hopefully it would stay like this for years and years to come.
As Nimueh arrived, invisible at first for her own amusement, she saw Uther standing on the balcony, looking down at his city. He seemed troubled, and that alone made her heart sink. Before he had married Ygraine, Uther and her had been even a little more than friends, and sometimes she couldn’t deny she still felt for him.

”Here I am Uther”, she called out before lifting the shadows from her body. “Why have you asked for me, old friend?”

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther would not forget their past, either. He was young then, and more carefree. His father had taken him to task a few times about dabbling with non-royals. Even as third son, he was still expected to marry a woman of royal blood and further alliances with the kingdom's allies. Nimueh wasn't a servant, but she wasn't royalty, either, and even when he had become king of his own land, he was still inclined to marry properly and strengthen his claim with new allies. It had not been a difficult thing, Ygraine had stolen his heart. She had become everything to him, and he had put any other romantic feelings aside.

But now, the hurdle he faced seemed insurmountable. He turned to what he believed was his and Camelot's last hope.

"It is good to see you again. I only wish it could be under better circumstances."He said with a sigh."I have done well for myself, I have almost all that I could want. But what I desire most, I fail to achieve. Camelot must have an heir, but nothing has worked. The physician has tried everything, and Ygraine remains barren. Please...there must be something you can do. Some way magic can be used to give us a son."

[Deleted]

Nimueh had not been ignorant of the things going in Camelot, at least not of the bigger picture. She knew how merciless a royal court could be and she also knew the fragile status of a queen consort. She was only there to bear her husband an heir and if she couldn’t fulfil that duty, her star could be rapidly waning, whatever kind of blessing she could be otherwise to the kingdom. As long as heirs and other children kept coming, a queen consort could do practically whatever she wanted if she never got too scandalous. But Ygraine had not produced an heir yet and it had been quite some time since her and Uther had been married. The High Priestess herself had often tried to comfort the queen, trying to make her see that it was not necessarily her fault. Being trained in the Celtic Religion and knowing many secrets about life and death, Nimueh was all but sure that the fault of not bearing children often enough lay with the husband and not the wife. But how to voice that thought in a world that was more and more dominated by men?

”It’s good to see you as well, my king!” she answered with a smile, referring to his title only by courtesy. He was not HER king, she answered to no one. Her smile however soon faded when she listened to what she had to say.
“Uther..” she interrupted him uneasily, but shut her mouth again to hear him out. It didn’t get better though. Uther was playing with fire, and he probably didn’t even know it.
”Sometimes what a matter such as this needs is time and patience. And never forget Uther, magic is a gift, not a tool. It can’t be used without paying a price! Do you remember what I told you about the balance of the world once?”

No, Nimueh didn’t like the way this conversation was turning at all. Like a dark sense of foreboding she could feel a shiver running down her spine.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther was well aware of the potential consequences of what he asked. He knew full well that a life had to be taken for a life to be given. He was saddened by the thought that he would not see his son grow up, that the boy would never know his father. But Uther felt it a sacrifice worth making. The good of the kingdom must always come before one's own desires. He had expected Nimueh to be surprised and uneasy about his request, as it was a powerful type of magic he wished to employ. He nodded in reply to the question she asked. Of course, in his desire for an heir, Uther did not realize that there were no guarantees, that the magic would choose its own sacrifice, and he could not assure things in such a manner as he wished.

"Yes. You said that for a life to be created, a life must be taken. I know that a sacrifice must be made, and I am willing to make it. It is not an easy thing to offer one's life, to want something so much it is worth dying for, but I am prepared to offer myself...if it will allow Camelot an heir, it will be worth it. I must put the future of the kingdom above myself."

[Deleted]

Uther seemed to remember what she had told him once in a completely unrelated conversation, when he had been very curious of what her true power entailed. She remembered the time very fondly, but now she wished she had never spoken of it, because if she hadn’t Uther would not now demand the impossible of her. Yes, the impossible. What was theoretically possible might not be morally possible at all. A life for a life… that was messing with more than just the balance of the world. It was playing with the Goddess’ will, challenging her unchallengable authority to form the world to her best ability and will. Magic was a gift from her to her creation, and thus it should not, COULD not be used as a weapon against her. If one dared to, the price to pay was never what you expected.

With every word Uther spoke, the knot in Nimueh’s stomach tightened painfully until it nearly drove the breath from her lungs. He was so right and yet so wrong… and she had to convince him to let it be! She HAD to find the words that would sway him, or the outcome would be desatrous!
She gasped when he suggested his life in return, shaking her head wildly. “You can’t make me do this, Uther!” she exclaimed, but it was not so much a defiant statement, but almost a plea: don’t make me do this… don’t let me be the hand that destroys you… I could not bear it.
”Uther, listen to me”, she conjured him. “You go at this the wrong way! The life that is asked will not be taken in a few years but the very instant the other is given its first breath of life! What do you think will happen if you die on the spot and leave Camelot without a ruler?”

She started to pace back and forth, wringing her hands while she tried to make him see. “The very future of your beloved kingdom is what I am concern about. It will fall into chaos. An infant cannot rule in your place. And what do you think will he grow up to, your precious son? You might need a son, but a son also needs his father! Who will he learn from how to rule as a just king? Who will be his guiding hand, his challenger, his role model? No Uther, I cannot allow this!”
With this, she hoped she could convince him, purposefully not telling him that it was by no means certain whose life was to be taken. That might just encourage him.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther knew that he was essentially caught in the middle, without an easy way out. If he did not produce a son, Camelot would be in danger after his death. If he gave his life, it would still be in danger, albeit much sooner. The king trusted Ygraine to raise her son, but the other kingdoms would take advantage of a woman ruler very easily. They would see her as weak and easily conquered. There was her brother, Agravaine, but Uther was not sure he trusted him. It was not something easily described, but Agravine seemed ambitious...there was little to say he wouldn't try to take the kingdom for himself long before the prince grew old enough to defend it. Ygraine's other brother, Tristan, was a possibility, but Uther was uncertain still.

"I seem to have little choice. Either way, the kingdom is in danger. If I die without an heir, it will be conquered by someone else. And if I do this and give my life, it is in danger while my son is young and unable to defend it. I know that women are not looked on well by male rulers and that they won't take kindly to Ygraine."he said."But then, how do we know? It is not certain who will be chosen. It could just as well be someone unimportant. If we are fortunate, both of us will live."

[Deleted]

Oh, she should have known that Uther was smart enough to find this one loophole to annul and circumvent her argumentation! Of course no one could say who magic would choose as a prize, but that was not only a good thing, it was a high risk as well. If things went really bad they could even claim Ygraine herself as their prize, and the outcome of that twist would be disastrous for Uther, He would never forgive himself endangering Ygraine’s life for his own gain. It could turn Uther into a broken man, and Nimueh did not want to see that day.

And he was right when he said he was in quite the predicament. She, herself, would still plead for more patience, as Ygraine was still young enough to bear a son, but patience had never been a virtue you could praise Uther for. If he wanted something, he was never inclined to wait long for it, paired with a little ounce of arrogance, thinking that he as king of Camelot should be served whenever he saw fit. Just that there were forces out of his command and reach, maybe even out of Nimueh’s own, even though her power was much greater. Nimueh was powerful indeed, bestowed with tools that could make the whole world be at her command, but she knew that the power was not her own. It was given to her as a gift to use for good, and she respected this, hoping that she never would feel the need to think otherwise.

“We have yet to discuss the person that will be most affected by all of this”, she reminded him softly. “Ygraine. What is her point of view in this matter? You cannot very well expect me to do this behind her back, can you?”
Maybe that would be the right way to sway Uther? If Nimueh’s own powers of persuasion failed, she could be sure that Ygraine would find the right words. She always did, because she was nearest to Uther’s heart. Once upon a time, Nimueh liked to think that place had been taken up by her, but she had accepted Uther’s feelings and stepped down. At least she told herself so. Knowingly, she would never wish Ygraine harm, and she should be the last to suffer for Uther’s ignorance of magical devices and ways.